Nigel Farage lands in Gibraltar to lay out UK gambling concerns

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, was welcomed by high ranking officials in Gibraltar to discuss mitigation strategies against a potential gambling tax increase in the UK. The UK and Gibraltar industries are tightly connected, with some of the biggest operators active in the UK operating out of the British Overseas Territory, such as Entain, bet365, evoke, Kindred Group, and LiveScore Group. With Gibraltar’s clear vested interest in UK gambling policy, it is no surprise that the country’s political elite is following the developments closely. Over the last few months operators – who are already seeing their top lines chipped away from the 2025 tax increases – have been embarking on a large-scale campaign against a potential increase in Machine Games Duty. Reports of just how much Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey will move the needle up from the current 20% keep conflicting. Some are worried about a double rate of 40%, while others swear that will go up by only 5%. Although hope of no tax increases will certainly stay alive until the Budget gets announced on 28 October, a potential hike would dent betting shops, Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) and bingo halls pretty heavily, with industry estimates warning of thousands of jobs getting cut and hundreds of venues pulling the shutters down. This would inevitably affect operators’ expenses, leading to cost cuts that could see the same wave of closures and employment terminations being replicated in Gibraltar. Farage himself has been a prominent gambling ally, often repeating the industry-backed sentiment that further gambling tax increases will have a detrimental effect on the UK economy. Nigel Feetham, Trade and Industry Minister of Gibraltar, has been following closely, meeting with various political parties and business representatives in the UK to gauge a better understanding of the situation. Just last week, Feetham was joined by a number of CEOs and political figures for a breakfast in London to discuss the ongoing debates. On Farage being the latest UK politician engaged by Gibraltar, Feetham added: “With the UK Budget approaching, I have been making the case across the political spectrum to ensure that the potential consequences of further gambling tax increases for Gibraltar are fully understood. “I have a responsibility to ensure that Gibraltar’s interests are represented and that our message is heard loud and clear by all political parties.”